Preservation Groups Purchase 21 Acres of Carpinteria Bluffs to Preserve as Open Space: Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs, other organizations raise money to buy undeveloped coastal property

Some of the credit for this happening goes to lifelong Carpinteria resident and fellow pilot George Jimenez. When George saw a group of well-dressed people looking around the land a few months ago he took it upon himself to go investigate what they were about. When he learned they were not the developers he feared, but a group of people considering the preservation of the land, George spoke to them about the history of the site and how he has worked to keep the property from becoming an eyesore. He has removed abandoned homeless encampments, cleared brush, worked to prevent illegal dumping, and initiated trash service at the cul-de-sac.

George has voiced his concerns on development many times to lifelong friend and Mayor of Carpinteria Gregg Carty, and when Chet Work (Executive Director of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County) gave his speech at the news conference on Wednesday, he singled out George and thanked him for providing the motivation to go forward with the idea of purchasing the land for preservation. Without George's input, this could have easily gone a different direction.

The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.- J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

While the Bluffs 3 land acquisition for preservation project by The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County and the Citizens for Carpinteria Bluffs arguably benefits our community, the actual impact regarding access to flying at Bates is uncertain. It should be noted that the actual launch pad at "Upper Bates" is not included in the property purchased and still possibly available for sale? by current owners? to?

The West Bates Launch flown when the flow is from the ESE to South (aka Bates Pier? or Tee Time?) does appear to be included in the somewhat recent "Tee Time Land Acquisition".